As we rest from the hustle and bustle of Christmas, and like the shepherds, wonder what it is all about, I bring you a few words from Harry Reasoner, the TV news commentator:

The basis for the tremendous annual burst of gift buying, and parties and near hysteria is a quiet event that Christians believe actually happened a long time ago. You can say that in all societies there has always been a mid-winter festival and that many of the trappings of our Christmas are almost violently pagan. But you come back to the central fact of the day and the quietness of Christmas morning – the birth of God on earth.

It leaves you only three ways of accepting Christmas.

One is cynically, as a time to make money or endorse the making of it. One is graciously; the appropriate attitude for non-Christians who wish their fellow citizens all the joy to which their beliefs entitle them.   And the third, of course, is reverently.

If  this is the anniversary of the appearance of the Lord of the universe in the form of a helpless baby, it is a very important day. It’s a startling idea, of course. My guess is that the whole story that a virgin was selected by God to bear His Son, as a way of showing His love and concern for man, is not an idea that has been popular with theologians.

It’s a somewhat illogical idea, and theologians like logic almost as much as they like God. It’s so revolutionary a thought that it probably could only come from a God that is beyond logic, and beyond theology. It has a magnificent appeal.

Almost nobody has seen God, and almost nobody has any real idea of what He is like. And the truth is that among men the idea of seeing God suddenly, and standing in a very bright light, is not necessarily a completely comforting and appealing idea. But everyone has seen babies, and most people like them.  If God wanted to know His people as well as rule them, He moved correctly here, for a baby growing up learns all about people.   If God wanted to be intimately a part of man, He moved correctly, for the experiences of birth and familyhood are our most intimate and precious experiences.

So it comes beyond logic. It is either all falsehood or it is the truest thing in the world.

It’s the story of the great innocence of God the baby – God in the form of man – and has such a dramatic shock toward the heart that if it is not true, for Christians, nothing is true.

So, if a Christian is touched only once a year, the touching is still worth it, and maybe on some given Christmas, some final quiet morning, the touch will take.

Amen.

The Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to Matthew.

 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”

which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.  (Matthew 1:18-25)

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Years ago, there was a very, very, wealthy man who, with his devoted  young  son, shared a passion for art collecting. Together  they  traveled the world, searching for the finest art treasures to add to their collection.

Works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many other masters adorned the walls of the family home.  The widowed, elderly man watched with satisfaction as his only child became an experienced  collector.  The son’s trained eye and sharp business mind caused his father much quiet pride. 

Father and son enjoyed working this way together, and  life was good. But there were storm clouds on the horizon. There was much coming and going between nations, and finally, the country was drawn into war. Patriotic fervour was at its height, and this young man, with many others, left  home to do his duty.  

The war was vicious, and almost from the first, there was news of many casualties. Indeed, after only a few short months, the father received a telegram, telling him in short, terse words, that his beloved son was missing in action.

Through Fall and into the Winter, the old man anxiously awaited more news, worrying that he would  never see his son again. His fears were finally confirmed when he received news that the young man had died while rushing to get a fellow soldier to a medic.

Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming Christmastide  with anguish and sadness.  The joy of the season, a time that he and his son had always enjoyed together, was missing this year. 

Then, on Christmas morning, a knock on the door awakened him. He walked to the door, blind to the many masterpieces on the walls. They only served to remind him of his loss.  

At the door, he was greeted by a young man in uniform who told him, “I  was a friend of your son.  I was the one he was rescuing when he died.  May I come in for a few moments?  I have something to show you.”  He entered the house, bringing with him, a large package. 

As the two began to talk, the soldier recounted how the man’s son had told everyone of his father, and their mutual love of fine art.

“I’m an artist, myself,” said the soldier, “and I want you to have this.”

Puzzled, the old man opened the package, and as the wrapping  paper  fell away, there was revealed,  a portrait of his son.  It was not a work of genius, but the artist had captured the young man’s face in striking detail. Holding back his tears, the father thanked the young soldier and promised that the picture would hang in a place of honour, over the great fireplace.

A few hours later, after his son’s friend had departed, the old man set about his task.  True to his word, he hung the portrait  above the fireplace, pushing aside thousands of dollars  worth of paintings.  And then he sat in his chair and gazed with moist eyes, at the Christmas gift he had been given. 

Other stories of his son’s courage and compassion continued to reach  him, and the fatherly pride he felt as he learned more, helped soften his grief.  That picture of his son, became his most prized possession, and in his mind, far eclipsed the value of all the other paintings. 

Indeed, he often said that painting was the greatest gift he had ever received.

The following year, the old man became ill and passed away.  His passing was the cause of much anticipation in the art world, especially after it became known that his collection would be auctioned on Christmas day, the day he had received his greatest gift.

When Christmas came, art collectors and dealers from near and far, gathered to bid on some of the world’s most spectacular paintings.  Dreams would be realised on this day.

The auction began with a painting that was not on any potential bidder’s list.  It was the painting of the man’s son.  The auctioneer asked for an opening bid.  The room was silent. “Who will open the bidding with $100?” he asked.  Minutes passed.  No one responded.  People were impatient. They had come to bid on valuable pieces of art.  But the auctioneer continued looking for a bid for the valueless painting.

“Do I hear seventy five?” he called. ”Fifty?” Who will take the son?”

 he asked.

Eventually a single voice called out. “I will bid twenty. It’s all I can afford. I knew the father and his son. I would like to have it.” 

“I have twenty dollars.  Will anyone go higher?” called the auctioneer. There were no more bids.  “Going once, going twice.  Gone.” The gavel fell.

There was a palpable sense of relief in the room. Now they could get on with the business of bidding for the real stuff.

But the auctioneer announced the auction was over.  People were stunned. They had come, some of them, thousands of miles for this auction of auctions, and now, it was over?  The auctioneer explained,  “It’s very simple. You see, according to the will of the father, whoever takes the son…gets it all.”

This is a week for giving and receiving gifts.  Some will be just what we desired.  Some will not –  although we may politely say, ” Oh that’s what I have always wanted!”

Some will be expensive. Some will have been hard to find.

Getting the right present for each person on our list may have been very difficult.  We may have thought long and hard, and searched far and wide for just the right gift.

But no matter how hard we try. No matter how far we travel in search of it. No matter how much money we may spend. We will never be able to give the perfect gift.

You see, there is one gift which, when all is said and done, is the only gift that really matters.

At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus, and Jesus – Jesus – is the gift. He is God’s gift to us. 

Isaiah prophesied concerning this gift:

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; authority shall rest upon his shoulders; and he shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

When you find yourself overwhelmed by all that is going on – out there –  with Christmas movies, and TV specials, and the best sale ever, and the lights and  office parties, and house parties, and wine and mince-pies,  and family get-togethers, and turkey and stuffing, and everything that has come to mean so much to us at Christmas – has in fact – become Christmas…..

……………and when the darkness behind it intrudes – the wars going on, thoughts of homeless people, those celebrating alone, memories of  those who aren’t with us any more……… then…. lift your eyes,  and you will see the one gift that stands out above all others.

You will see a gift that offers more than any glittering earthly treasure, a gift that can bring people out of the darkness and into the light. 

You will see a gift that has the promise of love and forgiveness, and peace and joy. 

All the stuff that goes on at this time of year can blind us to the promises inherent in this season,  but God’s Son is the real gift. God’s Son and all that He means to this world.

Whoever has the Son has it all.

Amen.

The Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to Matthew,

When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?”

Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”

As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written,

‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’

“Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”( Matthew 11:2-11)

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Can you believe it, it’s almost Christmas?   

I’m not ready!  I  am not ready in terms of the usual Christmas stuff  – buying gifts, planning dinners, or visiting friends, and here it is December 15 th.

I am not ready in terms of my spiritual preparations. Christmas is barreling down the road and I haven’t really thought about it.   And I am not ready in terms of what I expect this Christmas to accomplish in my life.

We have had plenty of warning, haven’t we?

In the market place, Christmas selling began almost before Hallowe’en was over.

In the church, we have already had three Advent Sundays counting today so I ought to be ready.

And I don’t want Christmas to go by in a rush, a rush of spending and eating and driving from here to there and there to here. 

I would hate to think that when it was all over, all that had happened was that I was deeper in debt.

I wonder if maybe it is time to rethink what I expect to get from Christmas.

What are you expecting from Christmas?

I heard a story about a little girl who sat on Santa’s lap, and when he asked what she wanted for Christmas, she said,” Another ten megabyte of ram.”

When Santa asked why, she said,” So I will have enough memory to be able to play the game my dad is getting me.”

It’s a time when children think their dreams will be fulfilled. They can ask for the thing dearest to their hearts, and Santa will bring it.

But what are you expecting? 

To be more exact, what do expect from the Coming of Christ, this year?   The usual?

A warm feeling when you sing the carols?  An enjoyable service? It will be good to see the church full, won’t it?

It really is special to be in church Christmas Eve. But that special atmosphere, or ambience, shouldn’t be all that we expect.

One of the  things I tell couples when I am preparing them for marriage is that when they leave the church after a beautiful wedding, and after the three or four hours with the photographer, and the reception and all the flattering toasts, and after the honeymoon in  some tropical paradise;  after all that I tell them, they will come home to real life. They will see each other first thing in the morning, she with no make-up, and he, unshaven, and hair uncombed. They will have to wash the dirty dishes, do the laundry – even pick up after each other.

So although the magic of the wedding day is fine, there had better be something else there, for when it wears off. 

And as a wedding is just a beginning, and right afterward, comes life, Christmas is also a beginning,  and right after comes life.   So for us too there had better be something else there for when Christmas wears off.    

Because otherwise, there will be a big let down when you stuff all the wrapping paper into a garbage bag, and eat what is left of dried out  turkey.

If you have expected the wrong thing, that is. 

John the Baptist seems to have expected the wrong thing from the Messiah.  

He sent his disciples to ask,” Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

He wasn’t sure.

He had prophesied the coming of a judge with a winnowing fork in his hand  someone who would sort the wheat from the chaff and throw the chaff into the fire.  A stern judge.

But this Jesus was a man of mercy.  He brought news of a loving and forgiving God.   He didn’t sound like a Messiah  when judged against John’s expectations.

Jesus didn’t sound like a Messiah when judged against the expectations of the religious rulers either.  Or of the people.

The people wanted someone who would  be strong enough to overthrow the Romans,  and the religious leaders wanted someone  quiet enough not to cause trouble.

Jesus didn’t do what the church leadership expected a Messiah to do, and he was unwilling to be what the people wanted him to be, so he was rejected.

They didn’t want the real thing, did they? They wanted a Messiah who fit a certain image, and if they couldn’t have that, then they didn’t want in. 

I saw a television presentation once that looked at the life of Lana Turner. Does anyone here remember her? She was the original  sweater girl. Her picture graced the locker of many a soldier during the Second World War. She was a movie star if ever there was one.

Miss Turner was married seven times.  One of the men she married was a mobster by the name of Johnny Stampanato. He was abusive to her.   See,  Stampanato had fallen in love with the movie star, Lana Turner – not the person, Lana Turner. 

He wanted the Hollywood image, not the real thing.  

That story is a perfect illustration of how, how if someone  – even God – doesn’t fit our expectations, then we reject them.

Next week, there will be a lot of people here who do not normally attend. I am glad. I am glad that once more God gives us the opportunity to minister to them, and to welcome them.

What do they expect from this church? 

What do you expect from Jesus? 

Is he just a part of the mythology  of Christmas? Or is he real to you?

What do we   –   people who are here every week – or close to every week – what do we expect to find in Jesus?

Does what we know of Jesus fit our expectations? 

I guess that the determining fact of Jesus is that he doesn’t fit anyone’s expectations.

He doesn’t fit to the extent that over the centuries, people have had to find ways to present him that fit what they want. 

Like paintings of Jesus that show him as a Caucasian  sometimes even with blond hair and blue eyes.

Like when ambitious leaders used his name to conquer and oppress.

Like when a long line of Inquisitors from the 12th to the eighteenth century used force to make people follow their particular expectations of Christ.  

It’s very tempting to make Jesus into something that suits us, rather than looking at the real man, the real Christ.

I remember seeing a television program that looked at the phenomenon of a faith revival in the United States. The camera and interviewer went to a service and spoke to a woman who, it transpired, had been brought up by an abusive father.  In Jesus she saw the loving father she wanted her own father to be.  

Somewhere, I read about a sister in a convent greeting a newcomer  to the order by saying,” Imagine, we are in love with a two thousand year old man.”

We can look to Jesus for many things. 

And that’s alright, provided we don’t take our bat and ball home when he doesn’t do what we want Him to do.

The Bible presents Jesus to us as a man who went against the rules  when the rules became oppressive.    So don’t expect to find Jesus where everybody has to obey the rules, or else! 

The Bible presents Jesus as a man who had compassion for those with needs.     So we shouldn’t expect to find Jesus where compassion is in short supply.

The Bible presents Jesus as a man who healed the wounded.   

So we can’t expect to find Jesus among those who hurt others.

The Bible presents Jesus as one who talked about a loving and forgiving God.      So we would not expect to find Him  where condemnation and non-acceptance of others is the order of the day.

But the Bible presents Jesus as someone who loved children, so God help those, who lead little ones astray.  It would be better for that someone to have a  millstone tied around their neck and to be cast into the sea.

And the Bible presents Jesus as someone who sees us as the precious children of God, and gave His life for us.    So don’t expect to find him among those who use others as objects. 

The Bible presents Jesus as saying,” I will be with you, always, to the end of the age.”

All these things we can expect of Jesus.

And if we expect all these, then we will not be disappointed.

So come Christmas, let’s celebrate His birth, let’s sing His praises, let’s welcome Him into this world  – God knows he is needed  – and let us have a loving, wonderful, Christ – filled Christmas, and  amidst all that, let us look with joy toward the coming of the real Christ……… the Messiah.

Amen. 

The Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to Matthew

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.’”

Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:1-12

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Did you know that more people are living now than have lived since the human race came into being? 

Did you know we are living in a golden age?, More people are living longer, than ever before. More people are well-fed than ever before. Disease is less a killer than it ever was.

However, as each object has its shadow, so does each achievement of this age, have a shadow.

Six million Chinese have been lifted out of poverty by the communist government, over fifty or so years.

An outstanding achievement by any measure.

But many others, ethnic Uighurs, had been  confined in prison camps where they will be compelled to give up their religion, and learn to be obedient subjects.

Many diseases have been virtually eliminated  –  smallpox,  consumption, diphtheria, scarlet fever, typhoid, cholera. Ringworm.   – but new diseases have materialized.   Fifty years ago, who had heard of AIDS or Sars, or flesh eating disease? Or Covid

And  Measles seems to be making a come back.

In a lot of areas where we thought the human race had made irreversible advances, we seem to be slipping back. 

Countries still invade countries. Terrorists kill hostages. In many places, civilization has been revealed to be only a thin veneer.

We are just human beings, with our frailties, our faults, and our insecurities, so it’s only  natural that we will make mistakes, and mess up as individuals.

And since human beings comprise governments, organizations and other institutions they will be messed up too.

A friend of  mine came into work one morning and told me that he was in the dry cleaners situated at a busy intersection and the policeman who had been directing the traffic outside, came in to the store, red-faced and frustrated.

The traffic he had been attempting to direct was tied up in knots.

Taking off his helmet,  and mopping his brow, he said, “I figure I’ll let them sort it out for themselves for a while.

They are probably better left alone.”

Similarly, I read once, about the options open to the government in a particular situation.

The suggestion was made that the government might only make things worse by interfering, so it would be better to leave things alone. 

So  we human beings, whether acting individually or in concert with others,  for all our vaunted technology,  all our learning,  all our over-weening confidence, can’t do right for doing wrong.

Isaiah, in the Old Testament reading today addresses Judah at a time when that nation has got things wrong.  

And how!

The Assyrians had conquered them.

Life was hard.

But Isaiah reassures that God will deliver them, and restore their sovereignty, and He will do this through a Messiah whom he will raise up from the root of Jesse.

Jesse was the father of David, so talking about a shoot growing out of the stump of Jesse, means someone will be born of the house of David.

That someone will be the Saviour of Judah, and of Israel.

He will be someone with wonderful attributes. He will restore the nation to greatness, and will bring  peace and security. He will do what kings and presidents have not been able to do.

Reading this excerpt from, Isaiah, along with today’s psalm extolling the righteous king,  we can see the prophetic reference to the person that John the Baptist is also announcing – Jesus Christ. 

Isaiah talks of a shoot that will grow from the stump of Jesse. 

Jesus is a descendant of Jesse.

Isaiah also tells us that on this man will rest the Spirit of the Lord.

Do you remember the baptism of Jesus, when the dove landed on his head?  The Spirit of the Lord?

And the promised Messiah has some specific attributes. He has wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, and the knowledge and fear of the Lord.

His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. (Fear here is synonymous with awe, obedience, trust and worship.)

Wisdom, power and understanding, are attributes of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of Jesus.

We are told further, that He shall not judge merely by what the eyes can see, but he will look below the surface, into the heart.

That describes what we know of Jesus, doesn’t it?

“Righteousness will be his belt, and faithfulness the belt around his loins.” In other words his righteousness will be obvious, and so will be his faithfulness.

Again, Jesus.

But what about the reign of this king; this Messiah?

Well, with beautiful imagery, Isaiah tells us that peace will be universal. It will cover the earth and all that lives on it. 

Isaiah uses images of animals co-existing with their traditional foes. He shows us a wolf living with a lamb; a leopard and a kid; a cow and a bear.

In fact, things will be so wonderfully peaceful and serene that a child will not be bitten by a snake, even though playing by its den. In other words there will be nothing to fear in this new world order.

Under the reign of Jesus Christ, there will be peace between all things on earth.

The predator animal will no longer prey on the weaker animal.

Living in the city, away from the forests where some wild animals still live, we are not aware of that sort of danger, except when we read in the newspaper, of some mishap in the bush.

Predators belong in the wilds, whereas we live in the city.

But there are predators in the city, aren’t there?

Human predators.

In discussing a man due to be released for parole, a case worker described him as  a predator.

A danger to society.

Today’s human predators are more to be feared than any animal predators.

They prey on children, on women, on anyone weaker than themselves and they hide in the shadows, and in internet chat rooms. 

But on the day when the Messiah rules, such behaviour will have been eliminated. 

Women, children, hostages, shall no longer be  exploited. They will no longer be oppressed. They will no longer live in fear.

On that day there will be peace – a palpable peace – a peace that can be sensed  – felt – enjoyed.

We are told that this will happen because the earth will be as full of the knowledge of the Lord – covered in that knowledge, in fact – as the waters that cover the sea.

People will know the Lord, the world over.

His name will be written on their hearts. 

His love will be known.

His rule will be known.

All over the world.

Now whether you choose to look at this text as foreshadowing the end of the world as we know it, and the beginning of the reign of  Jesus, or whether you choose to look at it as a somewhat  allegorical description of the inner peace that comes from knowing  the Lord, it doesn’t matter, the result is the same.

Because we are given hope, as the Israelites were given hope.

This is a message of hope for these times, just as it was a message of hope for those times.

It brings us to an expectation of the coming of Jesus Christ, we will remember and celebrate this Christmastide. 

It brings home to us that in a world where human beings with intelligence, with power, with ability, still mess things up corporately or individually,  there is yet hope.

There is a wonderful hope in what we know of Jesus Christ, Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, Saviour, Redeemer, Son of God.   

There is wonderful hope that with his help, with his love and direction in our lives, we can try again to get it right.

Again and again.

When I was a little boy, and uncles or aunts would stop by for a visit, the conversation would often turn to, ” Guess what our Trevor did now.”

And I provided plenty of fodder for such conversations.

But you can imagine how I felt.  How embarrassed I was.

People I loved and admired were being told the latest episode in my young life.

Not now. Not any more.

There is reassurance in Christ, that as human as we are, and as many times as we mess up – that many times and more  – will we be forgiven.

And not only are we forgiven when we mess up, but even the memory of what we have done is cast away by God, as far as the east is from the west.

Those things we did won’t be thrown at us; brought out at embarrassing times; held over our heads.

They are gone. Period.

That’s what we are promised,  as in this second week of Advent, we anticipate the coming into this world of the child Jesus.

Hope for it.

Look for it.

Prepare for it.

Christ  is coming.

And of Him who comes. we are told: 

“He shall live as long as the sun and moon endure, from one generation to another.

He shall come down like rain upon a  mown field, like showers that water the earth.

In His time shall the righteous flourish.

There shall be abundance of peace till the moon shall be no more. He shall rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.”

Praise His wonderful Name.

And Amen.